Virginia Soccer

Richmond Kickers’ Nozomi Hiroyama, 35, a veteran of 15 professional seasons on four continents, announced his retirement after the Kickers’ playoff loss to the Wilmington Hammerheads. Hiroyama, a former member of the Japanese national team, played his final two seasons in Richmond. He appeared in 47 matches for the Kickers, logged nearly 2,000 minutes and scored a pair of goals with two assists…..The Virginia Club Champions League expanded by four clubs this fall, which formed a new Maryland Division. Joining VCCL as members of VCCL Maryland are three Maryland clubs, Bethesda Soccer Club, FC Frederick and Freestate Soccer Alliance, and DC Stoddert from the District of Columbia……James Madison men’s soccer players Christian McLaughlin (Herndon, Va./Herndon) and Bjarki Aoalsteinsson (Iceland) have been honored for their play for the Dukes. McLaughlin was named to the Team of the Week by Top Drawer Soccer and was voted Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week. Aoalsteinsson was selected CAA Rookie of the Week…..William & Mary’s Mallory Schaffer, a senior midfielder scored two goals and assisted on the game-winner in W&M’s 3-0 shutout over Davidson. That was the Tribe’s sixth consecutive victory……Valley AFC families recently donated soccer equipment to area soccer teams in La Gonave, Haiti. That included jerseys for two teams, as well as used soccer shoes. The Roanoke area soccer club is seeking additional donations, including uniforms and shoes…..Virginia Commonwealth University cruised to a 5-1 victory over Seton Hall in the finale of the Old Dominion’s Stihl Classic. The Rams are unbeaten through their first five games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1999-2000. Last season…..Sophomore Jalon Brown scored on a penalty kick with less than four minutes remaining to give Christopher Newport a 2-1 win on the road over Lynchburg College.. Brown (Yorktown, VA) knocked in his fourth goal of the season and second winner on the PK, as CNU improved to 4-1-2 overall this season.